I apologize if the topic has been discussed to any extent and I was unable to find it, I also apologize if I offend.. I am unsure about this question.

Speaking with someone I recently met, they said they were part of the American Taekwondo Association... upon research, it looks like a McDojo.. a really really big one... and I reapologizes if I'm wrong but how do you guys feel about them?

The closest ATA school to where I live is not a good place for the martial arts. Calling int a McDojo would be a stretch for the good for them. It's essentially a daycare where small children run around while their parents do errands. There is little or no discipline. I've never seen any other ATA schools, and I don't want to put the whole organization down, but that school really set a bad first impression for me.

Quote:The closest ATA school to where I live is not a good place for the martial arts. Calling int a McDojo would be a stretch for the good for them. It's essentially a daycare where small children run around while their parents do errands. There is little or no discipline. I've never seen any other ATA schools, and I don't want to put the whole organization down, but that school really set a bad first impression for me.

Yes this topic has reared its head before. Speaking as someone who has traveled extensively thru out the country and was always looking for a place to train when away from my home Dojang, the above description had been the majority of what I witnessed. Not to mention most of their banners read "Karate for Kids". That should be a good sign of what is to be expected. But you gotta love the infamous "CAMO" Belt !

haha ya the camo belt is really what got me. But i thought "well maybe theres more to it and im being too hasty" then i read somewhere about the founder dieing and a conglomerate taking over the system destroying the reputation it once had.

To call it like mcdonalds is not really fare I think the support we get from them is great. Also I can go just about anywhere to train or if for what ever reason my school closes I can go to another school and pick up where I left off, Cant say that for a lot of other schools.Plus when I go to turnaments we are all judged equally, not so at open ones.

not ture it is still like it was before eternal grand master passed on.true we are the largest in the U.S. but we get great support for headquaters. we can go just about anywhere in the U.S. to train can you say that about a lot of other schools. Plus if I was away on business say in Chile I might not be able to speak the lingo but i would be able to train in a school there.